Former Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui has reportedly been holding out for another Premier League job – and there are apparently two clubs now looking at potentially appointing him.
Lopetegui has been out of work since he walked out on Wolves just days before the new season.
The Spaniard’s frustrations at the club had been made public and in the end, it didn’t come as too much of a surprise that he departed.
Lopetegui annoyed some Wolves fans with the way he left the club. Many could understand his frustrations regarding the financial situation and player recruitment. But his constant referral to that situation became tedious, and his interview with Guillem Balague was the final straw for many.
After doing a great job to keep the club up, he departed, and Gary O’Neil came in as his replacement.
It looks as though there is now a small possibility Lopetegui could be back managing in the Premier League…
Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest eyeing Julen Lopetegui
According to Marca, both Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest are now looking at Lopetegui as a potential option.
Steve Cooper is under huge pressure at the City Ground after a run of poor results. It was suggested that Cooper could have been sacked had he lost Saturday’s game with Wolves at Molineux, but he managed to get a 1-1 draw.
Cooper looked emotional straight after the game as he clapped the Forest fans, but it appears he still has the trust of owner Evangelos Marinakis for now.
Over at Palace, Roy Hodgson is also under a bit of pressure.
Both clubs are said to have identified Lopetegui as a possible next manager, with it being known that the 57-year-old wants to remain in the English top-flight.
Lopetegui taking over one of these clubs would be surprising
While it’s been clear for a while now that Lopetegui wants another Premier League job, it would be a real surprise if he took over at either Palace or Forest.
Lopetegui has had some big gigs in his career, having managed the likes of Spain, Real Madrid and Sevilla.
It was seen as a huge coup when Wolves landed him last year, as he had never been involved in a relegation battle before.
Having seen his stock rise after his spell at Molineux, it would be a surprise if he took over at Forest or Palace since, at the moment, it looks like both will be looking to pull away from the relegation zone come the end of the season.